A method and an apparatus for continuously producing particles from an
emulsion by supercritical fluid extraction. The emulsion includes a
solute suspended or dissolved in the supercritical fluid soluble first
phase. The supercritical fluid and the emulsion contact each other such
that the first phase dissolves from the emulsion into the supercritical
fluid and the solute precipitates to form a suspension in a non
supercritical fluid soluble second phase of the emulsion. The
supercritical fluid carries away the dissolved first phase. The solvent
bearing supercritical fluid, together with the solute suspended in the
second phase, is removed from an extraction chamber at a rate that is
about the same as a rate that the emulsion and the supercritical fluid
flow into the extraction chamber. Thus, a constant mass and pressure is
maintained in the extraction chamber and the particles are produced
continuously.